Weekly reviews of crab cakes around the MD and DC area

Anne Arundel County
Mar 19, 2024

Acme Bar & Grill

Walk along Annapolis' Main Street, and you'll come across everything that you expect in a small seaside town -- small shops, ice cream parlors, happy tourists, local restaurants and bars.  Oh, and the repeated claims of having Annapolis' best crab cakes.  And the Acme Bar & Grill isn't any different.  They've been around as long as we can remember.  During the day, they are a popular spot with the tourists and sailors.  And at night, the crowd turns quite a bit younger.  But, no matter when you go, the kitchen will be the same, and so will the crab cakes.  Are they really Annapolis' best?  Read on and find out!

Annapolis Seafood Markets is a chain of seafood markets with 3 locations around the Baltimore/Annapolis area.  Their stores offer a variety of fresh seafood and prepared items available for carry out.  Annapolis Seafood tends to be a local's secret, with their seafood being bought and prepared fresh daily.  Friend of the CCR Kerry G. shared this little secret with us, saying that someone in her family who typically hates seafood requests their crab cakes all the time.  While she may be referring to the jumbo lump crab cakes, anyplace with such rave reviews from the non-seafaring types must be good!  So with such high regards in mind, the CCR set sail for their nearest Annapolis Seafood Market with their sights set on crab cakes.  How were they?  Let's find out!

Last week, we reviewed Annapolis Seafood Markets' Backfin crab cakes.  Based on a tip from friend of the CCR Kerry G, we set forth to see just how good this place was.  And when we got there, we discovered that there were two different kinds of crab cakes on offer.  If you missed the review, Annapolis Seafood Markets is a chain of seafood markets with 3 locations around the Baltimore/Annapolis area.  Their stores offer a variety of fresh seafood and prepared items available for carry out.  Annapolis Seafood tends to be a local's secret, with their seafood being bought and prepared fresh daily.  Seeing as how the backfin cakes were really good, we just HAD to try the jumbo lump cakes.  Do they meet or exceed the standards set forth by the backfin cakes?  Read along and find out!

Every now and again, in the course of our reviews, we get to come across a place that we may never have known about, or at the very least, would have passed by without another thought, if it wasn't for the lure of crab cakes that lingered inside (and the help of a restaurant.com coupon as well!).  Barbecue, Blues & Seafood is such a place.  Located on 648 over by Marley Station, you might think this is strictly some sort of biker or dive bar.  But guess again!  Step inside, and immediately become engulfed in the delicious aroma of steamed crabs.  Then you notice the down home decor, and realize that everyone in there is as friendly as can be.  So are the crab cakes worth the trip?  Let's check it out!

Mar 19, 2024

Big Fish Grille

If you live in the Crofton area, then you already know the Big Fish Grille.  Perhaps you have passed by it on the way to a Baysox game, or in your travels up and down Route 3.  The Big Fish Grille is the place along the road that looks like an old Bubba Gump shrimp shack, complete with a big, goofy fish sign.  While owned by the same group that runs Buddy's, Red Sky, and Yellowtail, this is a local establishment.  And with half off appetizers and bottles of wine during their happy hour, you may want to look past the kitsch and stop on in.  But before you do, I'm sure you want to know about the crab cakes.  Never fear, we are here to let you know!  So read on and see how they turned out!

Page 1 of 8